Designer Q&A – Ben Voorderhake

Hello all! As JEB proudly supports our Australian interior designer talents, we will be featuring some very talented minds with whom we are collaborating with, and learn more about their thoughts and inspirations. Let’s hear from Australian interior designer Ben Voorderhake from Davenport Campbell & Partners:

Q: So, let’s start with the easier stuff – how many tabs do you have open right now?

A: Let’s have a look…there’s Airbnb for organising my accommodation for a family holiday at Tassie; Qantas to organise another flight to northern NSW to pick up a dog; Sydney Morning Herald so I could stay in touch with the world; multitude of design sites to get inspirations from other people’s brilliance; Dropbox to get my disjointed work life organised; Davenport Campbell’s website to check on some of my latest projects; Clients’ websites to understand who they are; and snow forecasts because I can’t believe my holidays are now over…

A: That was it! By the way, I really should get stuck in and get through my long to-do-list…just after I do a quick surf check.

Q: Change of topic here – folding napkins or scrunching them?

A: I like to think I am a folding-napkin person, my favourite blog is “things organised neatly”. In my head, this is how my world should be.

Of course, the reality is completely different. I have 2 young boys and a busy schedule. So, unfortunately, I am without a doubt, a dirty, wine stained, scrunched napkin person, if indeed, I am lucky enough to have a napkin at all.

Q: Now, let’s turn to the more serious side. Where do you get your style inspirations from and how would you describe it?

A: I like to think my style is fairly classic, not too in-your-face. I don’t go in for bright flashy design these days.

I try and create spaces that feel good to be in, spaces that reflect the culture of the user. I think form and space are still the main drivers for me, with the materials complimenting and reinforcing the design, rather than driving it. If a space flows well, works well, and isn’t forced, then it usually feels good to be in.

Q: It’s always nice to see something sleek and natural. Is your thought process like that too? What was your last lightbulb moment?

A: My last enlightenment was when I realised that I don’t need to know everything, and that I don’t need to appear to know everything. I finally feel comfortable with my level of knowledge and asking questions of people with more knowledge than me.

Q: As an Australian interior designer, what was your favourite project you’ve worked on and why?

A: I built a back-yard chicken coop a year or two ago. Its massively over-designed and engineered, and it took about ten times as long and cost ten times more than forecast (and it’s still not finished), but it was hugely satisfying. Oh, a fox got the chickens recently, so it’s empty now.

We specialise in supplying exceptional furniture of superior craftsmanship to commercial, residential, institutional and public sectors. Partnering with our clients, our sole aim is to craft creative solutions selected from the highest quality furniture available internationally, taking into account project requirements, ergonomics and the most advanced technological integrations available. We believe inspirational yet functional furniture improves working environments and elevates the end user experiences.

Founded in 2005, JEB Furniture Solutions is highly experienced with a wide range of country-specific standards, cultures and aesthetics. Our showrooms, located in Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore, and Australia, mix timeless, iconic pieces with new collections from celebrated contemporary designers.

Made up of four branches, JEB also provides partitions, architectural finishes and customising capabilities. Our wide scope of the construction and refurbishing process, as well as our international experience allows us to deliver unmatched service, choice and confidence when you select furniture with us.